The English Undergraduate Advisory Board has canceled its planned January 31 rally in support of English professor Gregg Camfield's application for tenure. The purpose of the rally was also to increase undergraduate participation in the general academic community. The cancelation was due to the group's decision that other approaches might be more effective, according to UAB Chairperson Christy Goralnik, a College junior. "The students in the English UAB feel just as keenly as ever about their need to participate in their own Penn educations," said Al Filreis, English Department undergraduate chairperson. Several student groups, including the Student Activities Council, were contacted about supporting the rally -- but their participation was not discussed at the UAB meeting last night, according to Goralnik. "We were having a hard time getting the word out," she said. The rally had been scheduled to coincide with the date that Camfield's application for tenure will be considered by the Personnel Committee of the School of Arts and Sciences. Instead, UAB members will be writing letters to the Personnel Committee, Goralnik said. And College junior Jamil Smith, a Daily Pennsylvanian columnist, said he will be organizing a smaller rally as a celebration of teaching to demonstrate undergraduates' appreciation of their professors. College senior Ellona Wilner, who helped plan the rally, said she was disappointed that the event will not be held. But she added that she thought the UAB was being realistic in cancelling the event. The UAB is planning a large, University-wide forum this spring to express undergraduates' concerns about their participation in the planning of their education. "An open-mike discussion with everyone right there would be the most effective way to discuss the issues," Goralnik said. University President Judith Rodin, Provost Stanley Chodorow and the deans of the various schools will be invited to participate in the forum which will be held during the spring, Goralnik said. She added that the format will be similar to the forum the UAB held last year. According to Wilner, all of the new projects to be held in place of the rally are still in the planning stages. "We're looking for a new way to express ourselves," Wilner said. Goralnik said the UAB wants to continue raising awareness of academic issues among undergraduates. "Hopefully, a combined effort between teachers and students will make a big difference in undergraduate education," she added.
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